1. Graphing Displacement
Honors Physics

2. Different ways to describe Displacement
Verbally
Mathematically
Graphically

3. Strobe photos One way to graph motion is with a strobe photo.
This method takes a picture at equal time intervals.
For example: take a picture every 0.1 s and overlay the photos.

4. Graphing displacement (position) vs time
When graphing, position 0 is called the origin.
This graph tells us more than just the position, it shows us how the position changes with respect to time.
What is the cars displacement at 2 s?
What is the cars displacement at 4 s?

5. Graphing displacement (position) vs time

6. Graphing displacement (position) vs time

7. Graphing displacement (position) vs time
Let’s graph this together!
What does the graph tell you about the objects motion?
Time (s)
Position (m) 1 3 2 6 9 4 12 5 15 18
Can we calculate the objects speed?
𝑣= 𝑑 𝑓 − 𝑑 𝑖 𝑡 𝑓 − 𝑡 𝑖
𝑣= 18 6 =3 m/s

8. How does this graph compare to the first one?
Graph this on your own
Time (s)
Position (m) 1 2 4 3 6 8 5 10 12
Which had a greater velocity?
𝑣= 𝑑 𝑓 − 𝑑 𝑖 𝑡 𝑓 − 𝑡 𝑖
𝑣= 12 6 =2 m/s
How does this graph compare to the first one?

9. Interpreting position-time graphs
The slope of the position-time graph tells you the speed of the object!
The greater the slope, the faster the object is moving!

10. Interpreting position-time graphs
The slope of the position-time graph tells you the speed of the object!
The greater the slope, the faster the object is moving!
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!!!

11. Graph this on your own What is going on?
What happens from seconds 2 – 3?
What happens from second 4 – 6?
Time (s)
Position (m) 1 2 4 3 5 6
What is going on?
Describe the motion of this object?